WO2018180624A1

WO2018180624A1 - Communication control device, communication control method, wireless communication apparatus and communication control system

Info

Publication number: WO2018180624A1
Application number: PCT/JP2018/010532
Authority: WO
Inventors: 聖也笹部
Original assignee: 日本電気株式会社
Priority date: 2017-03-30
Filing date: 2018-03-16
Publication date: 2018-10-04
Also published as: US11019561B2; JP6763475B2; US20210112487A1; JPWO2018180624A1

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a communication control device, a communication control method, a wireless communication apparatus, and a communication control system which handle policies in consideration of suppressing a reduction in use efficiency of communication resources of a plurality of base station devices in an identical access network. [Solution] A communication control device, which includes an access network discovery and selection function (ANDSF) for generating an access policy for controlling an access to a base station device of a wireless communication apparatus, is provided with: a receiving means which receives mode information about a restriction mode which is a setting of the first base station device; and a policy generation means which generates the access policy on the basis of the mode information, wherein when a second base station device, which is within a radio wave range in which communication is enabled with the first base station device, communicates with another wireless communication apparatus, the restriction mode is the setting in which the wireless communication apparatus performs an operation for lowering the priority of accessing the first base station device.

Description

COMMUNICATION CONTROL DEVICE, COMMUNICATION CONTROL METHOD, RADIO COMMUNICATION DEVICE, AND COMMUNICATION CONTROL SYSTEM

The present disclosure relates to a communication control device and a communication control method.
In particular, the present disclosure relates to a communication control apparatus and a communication control method that operate according to the 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) standard or equivalents or derivatives thereof, but is not limited thereto.

In recent years, with the increase in communication volume of wireless communication devices, wireless communication devices including a plurality of communication interfaces have appeared. The purpose of providing a plurality of communication interfaces in a wireless communication device is, for example, that an appropriate RAN can be selected from a plurality of RANs (Radio Access Network) according to required communication quality and communication volume, For example, it is possible to simultaneously connect to a plurality of RANs so that the load on each RAN can be reduced.

For example, certain wireless communication devices support UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), etc. As RAT (Radio Access Technology).

For example, the connection mode that performs traffic offload to Wi-Fi while being based on UMTS connection is one of the effective means to reduce the communication load of UTRAN (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) that is RAN of UMTS. It is. In addition, as a combination of RAN and base station equipment in the RAN, for example, Wi-Fi network and Wi-Fi access point, UTRAN and NodeB, E-UTRAN (Evolved （Terrestrial Radio Access Network) and eNodeB (Evolved NodeB) Etc.

Non-patent document 1 describes an access network discovery selection function (ANDSF (Access Network Discovery and Selection Function)) as a technology related to traffic offload. An apparatus having ANDSF is provided in a 3GPP network, and transmits, for example, a policy for selecting a connection with a 3GPP network or a non3GPP network (such as a Wi-Fi network) to a wireless communication device. In WLANSP (Wireless LAN Selection Policies) defined in ANDSF, SSID (Service Set Identifier) and the like are listed as candidates for selection. The selection of the connection destination base station device by the wireless communication device depends on the policy determined by the communication carrier for each user. Therefore, the cooperation between the base station apparatus in the non3GPP network and the apparatus having ANDSF becomes important.

Non-Patent Document 1 described above does not disclose a policy that takes into account the suppression of a decrease in the utilization efficiency of communication resources of a plurality of base station apparatuses in the same access network. Therefore, when the wireless communication device determines a connection destination base station according to the policy generated by ANDSF described in Non-Patent Document 1 described above, the utilization efficiency of communication resources of a plurality of base station devices in the same access network is improved. May decrease.
In view of the above-described problems, the object of various aspects of the present disclosure is to provide a communication control apparatus, a communication control method, and a communication control apparatus that handle a policy that considers suppression of a decrease in communication resource utilization efficiency of a plurality of base station apparatuses in the same access network. To provide a wireless communication device and a communication control system.

A communication control device according to a first aspect of the present disclosure is a communication control device including an access network discovery selection function (ANDSF) that generates a connection policy for controlling connection of a wireless communication device to a base station device. A receiving unit that receives mode information that is information related to the limited mode that is a setting of the first base station device, and a policy generating unit that generates the connection policy based on the mode information. Is connected to the first base station device when a second base station device in a radio wave reachable range that can communicate with the first base station device communicates with another wireless communication device. This is a setting for performing an operation for lowering the priority to be performed.

A communication control method according to a second aspect of the present disclosure receives mode information that is information related to a restriction mode that is a setting of a first base station apparatus, and based on the mode information, a base station apparatus of a wireless communication device A connection policy for controlling connection to the first base station, and in the restriction mode, a second base station device in a radio wave reachable range capable of communicating with the first base station communicates with another wireless communication device. The wireless communication device is set to perform an operation for lowering the priority of connection to the first base station device.

The wireless communication device according to the third aspect of the present disclosure is configured to connect the wireless communication device to the base station device generated based on the mode information that is information related to the restriction mode that is the setting of the first base station device. Receiving means for receiving a connection policy for controlling, and selecting means for selecting the first base station apparatus to be connected based on the connection policy, wherein the restriction mode is the first base When a second base station device in a radio wave reachable range that can communicate with a station device is communicating with another wireless communication device, the priority of the wireless communication device connecting to the first base station device is lowered. It is a setting to perform the operation for.

A communication control system according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure includes a communication control device including an access network discovery selection function (ANDSF) that generates a connection policy for controlling connection of a wireless communication device to a base station device, and a base A station device and a wireless communication device, the communication control device based on the mode information, receiving means for receiving mode information that is information related to a restriction mode that is a setting of the first base station device, Policy generation means for generating the connection policy, wherein the base station apparatus receives the connection policy from the communication control apparatus, and distributes the connection policy to the wireless communication device. And the wireless communication device receives the connection policy from the base station apparatus, and receives a connection destination based on the connection policy. Selecting means for selecting a ground station device, and in the restriction mode, a second base station device in a radio wave reachable range capable of communicating with the first base station device communicates with another wireless communication device. The wireless communication device is set to perform an operation for lowering the priority of connection to the first base station device.

Various aspects of the present disclosure include a communication control device, a communication control method, a wireless communication device, and a communication control system that handle a policy in consideration of suppression of reduction in communication resource use efficiency of a plurality of base station devices in the same access network. Can be provided.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication control device according to an aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of WLANSP of ANDSF MO (Management Object). FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data structure of the policy of ANDSF MO. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation of communication control according to an aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless communication device according to an aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a communication control system according to an aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a communication control device according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

The configuration of each device in the present disclosure is indicated by a functional unit block. Each function is realized by an arbitrary combination of hardware and software, and the realization method and apparatus have various modifications. The following embodiments are merely examples, and various configurations and combinations other than the following can also be adopted. Moreover, the direction of the arrow in the drawing shows an example, and does not limit the direction of the signal between the blocks.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication control device according to an aspect of the present disclosure. The communication control apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a receiving unit 11 and a policy generating unit 12. The communication control device 1 includes an access network discovery selection function (ANDSF) that generates a connection policy for controlling the connection of the wireless communication device to the base station device.

The base station device is a device having a data relay function and a data transfer function, and specifically includes a wireless LAN router such as a Wi-Fi access point, NodeB, eNodeB, etc., but is not limited thereto. The wireless communication device may be either a UE (User Equipment) having a wireless connection function to a 3GPP network and a non3GPP network or an STA (Station) having a wireless connection function to a non3GPP network, but is not limited thereto. Not. Specifically, a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, a sensor, a PC (Personal Computer), or the like can be given as any of UE and STA, but is not limited thereto.

The receiving means 11 receives information related to the restricted mode (hereinafter referred to as mode information) that is a setting of the base station device. The mode information is represented by a combination of information that can specify a base station device such as an SSID and a mode identifier that is information indicating the type of the restricted mode.

The restriction mode, which is the setting of the base station device, means that the wireless communication device is connected to the local station when another base station device in the radio wave reachable range with the local station communicates with another wireless communication device. This is a setting for performing an operation for lowering the priority. The operation for lowering the priority at which the wireless communication device connects to the local station may be, for example, an operation for discarding the connection request, an operation for delaying a response to the connection request, It may be an operation of refusing, may be an operation of recommending connection to a base station device other than its own station, may be an operation of interrupting processing for connection to its own station, The operation for interrupting the process for connection to the network may be performed.

The mode identifier is information for identifying an operation for lowering the priority with which the wireless communication device is connected to the base station apparatus. For example, as the mode identifier, “mode for lowering priority” is set. Value ”,“ value for indicating strength for lowering priority ”, and“ identifier for specifying operation for lowering priority ”, but the configuration of the mode identifier is not limited to these. Specifically, the strength for lowering the priority includes a delay time of a response to the connection request, but the configuration of the strength for lowering the priority is not limited to this.

The operation of delaying the response to the connection request includes, for example, delaying the response to the connection request for a time longer than the maximum channel monitoring time (Max Channel Time) of the wireless communication device, but is not limited thereto. Examples of the operation for rejecting a connection request include, but are not limited to, transmission of a message for rejection, transmission of a response including information indicating rejection (for example, cause of rejection), and the like. . The operation for recommending connection to a base station apparatus other than the own station is, for example, information for recommending connection to a base station apparatus other than the own station (for example, an address or SSID of a base station apparatus other than the own station) ) And the like, but is not limited thereto.

Examples of connection requests include, but are not limited to, probe requests, authentication requests, association requests, and the like. Examples of the response to the connection request include, but are not limited to, a probe response, an authentication response, and an association response. For example, the base station device transmits information indicating that there is a response from another base station device in the radio wave reachable range that can communicate with the base station device to the connection request of the wireless communication device. The setting of the local station may be set to the restricted mode, triggered by reception from at least one of the wireless communication devices that have requested connection. The information includes, for example, the response itself and ACK (ACKnowledgement) for the response, but is not limited thereto.

When the base station apparatus is operating by the passive scan method, when the setting of the base station apparatus is in the restriction mode, the base station apparatus may be set not to operate by the passive scan method. Thereby, the opportunity for a radio | wireless communication apparatus to connect with the base station apparatus by which setting was switched to restriction | limiting mode can be reduced.

The policy generating unit 12 generates a connection policy for controlling the connection of the wireless communication device to the base station apparatus based on the mode information received by the receiving unit 11.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data structure of WLANSP of ANDSF MO (Management Object).
For example, as shown in FIG. 2, items relating to mode information (indicated as ModeList in FIG. 2) may be added below the SelectionCriteria entry below the WLANSP entry. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, items relating to SSID (indicated as SSID in FIG. 2) and items relating to mode identifiers (indicated as Mode in FIG. 2) are added below the ModeList entry. May be. Possible values of Mode may be binary, discrete, or continuous.

For example, based on the mode information received by the receiving means 11, the policy generating means 12 uses the ANDSF を MO to identify information that can identify a base station device such as an SSID in the items related to the SSID below the ModeList entry in FIG. 2), and the mode identifier is set to an item related to the mode identifier below the ModeList entry in FIG. 2 (indicated as Mode in FIG. 2) to generate a connection policy. May be.

Alternatively, for example, based on the mode information received by the receiving unit 11, the policy generating unit 12 sets information that can identify the base station apparatus such as the SSID in the items below the SPExclusionList entry below the SelectionCriteria entry in FIG. Thus, a connection policy may be generated.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the policy of ANDSF MO. For example, based on the mode information received by the reception unit 11, the policy generation unit 12 sets information that can identify a base station device such as an SSID in the AccessId below the PrioritizedAccess below the Policy entry in FIG. A connection policy may be generated by setting a value related to the restriction. Here, for example, a value (254) indicating restricted access may be set as AccessNetworkPriority.

The policy generation means 12 may generate a connection policy based not only on mode information but also on user notification information generated by PCRF (Policy and Charging Rules), for example. That is, the policy generation unit 12 may generate a connection policy by setting these pieces of information to ANDSF に MO, for example. Further, for example, MaximumESSLoadValue, which is an item related to the upper limit of the load of ESS (Extended Service Set), may be added below the SelectionCriteria entry in FIG. For example, the policy generation unit 12 may generate a connection policy by setting an upper limit of the ESS load in the items below the MaximumESSLoadValue entry. As a result, the policy generation unit 12 can generate a connection policy in consideration of not only the BSS (Basic Service Set) load but also the ESS load.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of communication control according to an aspect of the present disclosure. According to FIG. 4, in step S101, mode information that is information related to a restriction mode that is a setting of the base station apparatus is received. In step S102, a connection policy for controlling the connection of the wireless communication device to the base station apparatus is generated based on the mode information. This operation is realized in the communication control device 1, for example. Specifically, step S101 is realized, for example, in the reception unit 11, and step S102 is realized, for example, in the policy generation unit 12.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless communication device according to an aspect of the present disclosure. The wireless communication device 4a illustrated in FIG. 5 includes a reception unit 41 and a selection unit 42. The receiving means 41 is a means for receiving a connection policy for controlling the connection of the wireless communication device to the base station apparatus generated based on the mode information. The selection means 42 is means for selecting a connection destination base station apparatus based on the connection policy received by the reception means 41.

In related technology, when a wireless communication device connected to a 3GPP network is connectable to a non3GPP network, for example, a connection policy for connecting to a base station device in the non3GPP network is distributed to the wireless communication device. The As the connection policy, for example, a connection base station apparatus can be selected from a plurality of base station apparatuses in a non3GPP network based on RSS (Received Signal Strength), position information, and the like. As the connection policy, for example, it is conceivable to select a connection destination base station device based on RSS, location information, etc., including not only base station devices in non3GPP networks but also base station devices in 3GPP networks. .

On the other hand, in an aspect of the present disclosure, based on the characteristics described above, the wireless communication device selects a specific base station device based on the connection policy generated by the policy generation unit 12 of the communication control device 1. To do. That is, for example, the wireless communication device gives priority to connection to a base station apparatus whose own station setting is not in the restricted mode, rather than a base station apparatus whose own station setting is in the restricted mode. Thereby, in an aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to “aggregate” wireless connections of a plurality of wireless communication devices in a base station apparatus whose setting is not in the restriction mode. Such an operation will be described by taking the system shown in FIG. 6 as an example.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration according to an aspect of the present disclosure. The system shown in FIG. 6 includes a communication control device 1, a base station management device 2, a base station device 3a, a base station device 3b, a base station device 3c, a base station device 3d, a wireless communication device 4a, A wireless communication device 4b. A network indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 6 is referred to as a first RAN, and a network indicated by a solid line in FIG. 6 is referred to as a second RAN. Examples of the first RAN include, but are not limited to, a mobile communication network such as UTRAN and E-UTRAN. Examples of the second RAN include, but are not limited to, a non-3GPP network such as a Wi-Fi network. Examples of the base station device 3a, the base station device 3b, and the base station device 3c include, but are not limited to, a Wi-Fi access point. Examples of the base station device 3d include NodeB and eNodeB, but are not limited thereto. For example, the base station device 3a and the base station device 3b exist in a radio wave reachable range that can communicate with each other, and the base station device 3b and the base station device 3c exist in a radio reachable range that can communicate with each other, and the base station device 3a It is assumed that the base station device 3b and the wireless communication device 4a exist within a radio wave reachable range that can communicate with each other. It is assumed that the base station device 3a and the base station device 3c do not exist in a radio wave reachable range that can communicate with each other, and the base station device 3c and the wireless communication device 4a do not exist in a radio wave reachable range that can communicate with each other.

Here, an example of an operation when there is communication between the wireless communication device 4b and the base station device 3c will be described.
For example, as a result of the wireless communication device selecting a connection-destination base station device based on RSS, location information, etc. according to the connection policy in the related technology, the wireless communication device 4a connects to the base station device 3b and starts communication. If this happens, the communications of the wireless communication device 4a and the wireless communication device 4b interfere with each other and the throughput decreases (so-called exposed terminal problem and defness problem).

In a certain aspect of the present disclosure, for example, the setting of the base station device 3b is switched to the restriction mode based on the connection of the wireless communication device 4b to the base station device 3c. Next, the base station management device 2 receives, for example, information indicating that the setting of the base station device 3b is the restriction mode from the base station device 3b. For example, the base station management apparatus 2 may receive information indicating that the setting of the base station apparatus 3c is not in the restriction mode from the base station apparatus 3c. For example, the base station management device 2 may receive information indicating that the setting of the base station device 3a is not in the restriction mode, for example, from the base station device 3a. The base station device 3a, the base station device 3b, and the base station device 3c may, for example, periodically transmit the mode information of the setting of the own station to the base station management device 2, and the setting mode of the base station device The information may be transmitted when a change occurs in the value of the mode identifier included in the information.
As described above, the change in the value of the mode identifier is, for example, that there is a response from another base station device in the radio wave reachable range where the base station device can communicate with the base station device to the connection request of the wireless communication device. Is generated from at least one of the other base station apparatus and the wireless communication device that has made the connection request. The change in the value of the mode identifier is, for example, when the base station device receives information indicating that the wireless communication device no longer belongs to another base station device in the radio wave reachable range that can communicate with the base station device. Arise. The base station device 3a, the base station device 3b, and the base station device 3c may transmit mode information of the setting of the own station to the base station management device 2 by a method such as a beacon.

Next, the receiving unit 11 of the communication control apparatus 1 receives the setting of the base station apparatus 3a and the base station apparatus 3c from the base station management apparatus 2, for example, in the restriction mode, and the setting of the base station apparatus 3b in the restriction mode. Receive information that there is.
Next, the policy generation unit 12 of the communication control device 1 generates a connection policy for controlling the connection of the wireless communication device to the base station device based on the received information. The connection policy includes ANDSF MO information other than mode information, such as ANDI (Access Network Discovery Information), ISRP (Inter-System Routing Policy) information, and access technology type (3GPP network, WLAN, WiMAX, etc.) Information such as technology-specific information (position information, etc.) may be included.

Next, the base station device 3d receives the connection policy from the communication control device 1 and transmits it to the wireless communication device 4a.
The wireless communication device 4a receives the connection policy from the base station device 3d, and updates the ANDSF MO that is the setting file. Based on the connection policy, the wireless communication device 4a gives priority to the connection to the base station device 3a whose setting is not in the restriction mode over the connection to the base station device 3b whose setting is in the restriction mode. By such an operation, interference between the respective communication of the wireless communication device 4a and the wireless communication device 4b is suppressed.

Accordingly, an aspect of the present disclosure provides a communication control device and a communication control method for generating a policy that considers suppression of a reduction in communication resource use efficiency of a plurality of base station devices in the same access network based on the above-described features. it can.

As shown in FIG. 7, the communication control device 1 is configured by hardware such as a central processing unit 91, a main storage device 92, and an input / output interface 93. The receiving means 11 is realized by an input / output interface 93, for example. The policy generating unit 12 is realized by the central processing unit 91 and the main storage device 92, for example. As shown in FIG. 7, the wireless communication device 4a is configured by hardware such as a central processing unit 91b, a main storage device 92b, and an input / output interface 93b. The receiving means 41 is realized by, for example, an input / output interface 93b. The selection unit 42 is realized by, for example, the central processing unit 91b and the main storage device 92b.

In FIG. 7, the auxiliary storage device may be provided in each of the communication control device 1, the base station device 3d, and the wireless communication device 4a. The communication medium among the communication control device 1, the base station device 3d, and the wireless communication device 4a may be wired or wireless.

The present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various changes that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention.

This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-066672 filed on Mar. 30, 2017, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Communication control apparatus 11 Receiving means 12 Policy generation means 2 Base station management apparatus 3a Base station apparatus 3b Base station apparatus 3c Base station apparatus 3d Base station apparatus 4a Wireless communication equipment 41 Receiving means 42 Selection means 4b Wireless communication equipment 91 Central processing unit 92 Main storage device 93 Input / output interface 91a Central processing unit 92a Main storage device 93a Input / output interface 91b Central processing unit 92b Main storage device 93b Input / output interface

Claims

A communication control device including an access network discovery selection function (ANDSF) that generates a connection policy for controlling connection of a wireless communication device to a base station device,
Receiving means for receiving mode information that is information related to the restricted mode that is the setting of the first base station device;
Policy generation means for generating the connection policy based on the mode information;
With
The restriction mode is
When a second base station device in a radio wave reachable range capable of communicating with the first base station device communicates with another wireless communication device, a priority that the wireless communication device connects to the first base station device It is a setting to perform the operation to lower the degree,
Communication control device.
The connection policy is
Including the mode information;
The mode information is
Including an identifier of the first base station device, and a mode identifier that is information indicating a type of the restriction mode,
The communication control apparatus according to claim 1.
The mode identifier is
Expressed in discrete values,
The communication control apparatus according to claim 2.
The mode identifier is
Expressed in binary,
The communication control apparatus according to claim 3.
The mode identifier is
Expressed as a continuous value,
The communication control apparatus according to claim 2.
The connection policy is
Including information on identifiers of base station devices that restrict connections by wireless communication devices,
The communication control apparatus according to claim 1.
Receiving mode information that is information related to the restricted mode that is the setting of the first base station device;
Based on the mode information, generate a connection policy for controlling the connection of the wireless communication device to the base station device,
The restriction mode is
When a second base station device in a radio wave reachable range capable of communicating with the first base station device is communicating with another wireless communication device, the wireless communication device is connected to the first base station device. It is a setting to perform an action to lower the priority to
Communication control method.
Receiving means for receiving a connection policy for controlling the connection of the wireless communication device to the base station device, generated based on the mode information that is information related to the restriction mode that is the setting of the first base station device;
Selecting means for selecting the first base station apparatus of the connection destination based on the connection policy,
The restriction mode is
When a second base station device in a radio wave reachable range capable of communicating with the first base station device is communicating with another wireless communication device, the wireless communication device is connected to the first base station device. It is a setting to perform an action to lower the priority to
Wireless communication equipment.
A communication control device including an access network discovery / selection function (ANDSF) that generates a connection policy for controlling connection of the wireless communication device to the base station device;
A base station device;
A wireless communication device;
With
The communication control device includes:
Receiving means for receiving mode information that is information related to the restricted mode that is the setting of the first base station device;
Policy generation means for generating the connection policy based on the mode information;
With
The base station device
Receiving means for receiving the connection policy from the communication control device;
A distribution means for distributing the connection policy to the wireless communication device;
With
The wireless communication device is:
Receiving means for receiving the connection policy from the base station device;
Selection means for selecting a base station apparatus to be connected based on the connection policy;
With
The restriction mode is
When a second base station device in a radio wave reachable range capable of communicating with the first base station device is communicating with another wireless communication device, the wireless communication device is connected to the first base station device. It is a setting to perform an action to lower the priority to
Communication control system.